New Community Shelter expansion plans announced Tom Krautkramer discusses the proposed new construction of the New Community Shelter, Inc. during the capital campaign announcement Thursday (photo by H. Marc Larson). By Monique Balas News-Chronicle With the help of a $4.25 million capital campaign that's now in its public phase, at least a few more of Green Bay's homeless can come in from the cold next winter. Plans for expanding and financing the New Community Shelter were announced at a news conference on Thursday morning. The shelter, a temporary residence for homeless men and women, is one of the nonmandated county programs that could face about $50,000 less in aid from Brown County when the county announces its 2004 budget. Shelter officials plan to continue their expansion plans by financing them entirely through a fund-raising drive. Campaign officials said they have raised more than $3.75 million and now are entering a public phase of the campaign to reach the last $500,000 to fund the project, which is expected to happen by the end of the year. "As Green Bay continues to grow, homelessness is becoming part of our reality and we're preparing to deal with that with this new shelter," said campaign chairman Tom Krautkramer. "We will be able to get them in and get them off the streets." Shelter officials said there are two options for the new shelter. One is to build it at the current site at 401 N. Broadway. City and shelter officials are also weighing another option - trading spaces with a business owner on Mather Street. Expanding the current site shouldn't affect area residents, Krautkramer said. "When we had meetings with neighbors in the community, they were very supportive of what we were doing," he said. Krautkramer said the current shelter was built a century ago to house Danish, Norwegian and German immigrants, and the building has outgrown its use as an old boarding house. Upkeep is becoming increasingly expensive as the building grows older. "We really need to do more than just house people," he said. The shelter provides 25,000 nights of shelter and more than 67,000 meals each year. The shelter offers job-search mentoring, financial management courses, legal assistance, healthcare and meal programs for both residents and eligible community members. It is having a difficult time finding space to house the additional programs. "The facility is not conducive to offering new programs," said Scott King, president of the shelter's board of directors. "There's no room at the inn. (The expansion) "gives us flexibility to expand the new programs where appropriate." The addition of a computer lab and classroom will help encourage self-sufficiency among the residents. "What we'll probably do is strike up a partnership with NWTC," King said after the news conference. The new shelter's doors might open by fall 2004, said shelter executive director Kathy McMurray. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt offered his blessing to campaign officials for the project. He applauded them for coming close to achieving their campaign goals and told them to encourage homeless residents to remain in Green Bay and add to the area's economy. "Next year, the city's 150 years old and I think this is going to be a great ribbon-cutting for one of our birthday celebrations," Schmitt said. FYI: Shelter details Nine new emergency beds, for a total of 96 Eight additional transitional housing apartments Expansion of dining room to seat 150 people (current site only seats 40) Computer lab and classroom Two extra medical offices Office for probation officer Office for outreach counselor